Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Wednesday’s presidential election, securing another term amid nationwide unrest.
The country’s electoral commission announced that Samia, representing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, won nearly 98% of the votes, capturing approximately 31.9 million ballots out of 32 million cast.
Voter turnout was reported at around 87% of the 37.6 million registered voters. Electoral chief Jacobs Mwambegele confirmed the result on Saturday morning, stating, “I hereby announce Samia Suluhu Hassan as the winner of the presidential election under the CCM party.”
In Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago with its own government, incumbent President Hussein Mwinyi of CCM won nearly 80% of the vote. The opposition there accused the government of “massive fraud.” Mwinyi’s swearing-in ceremony is currently underway at Amaan Complex Stadium in Zanzibar.
The election was marred by violence and protests across the country, with demonstrators in Dar es Salaam and other cities tearing down campaign posters and clashing with security forces. The unrest, mostly led by young protesters, has been fueled by allegations that the election was unfair and that opposition leaders were suppressed—one jailed and another barred from contesting on technical grounds.
Chadema, the main opposition party, claimed that around 700 people had been killed during the clashes, while a diplomatic source indicated there was credible evidence of at least 500 deaths. The Tanzanian government, however, has downplayed the violence. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Kombo Thabit described the incidents as “a few isolated pockets” and said security forces acted swiftly and decisively.
Only two main opposition candidates were permitted to run: Tundu Lissu, who is in detention on treason charges he denies, and Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, who was excluded on legal technicalities. Sixteen smaller parties also contested but hold minimal influence.
The CCM has dominated Tanzanian politics since independence and has never lost a national election. Ahead of the vote, rights organizations, including Amnesty International, condemned government repression, citing enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures. The government denied these allegations and maintained that the elections would be free and fair.
Samia Suluhu Hassan became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli. Despite the official victory, tensions remain high in the country, and security forces continue to maintain a strong presence in major cities.